Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films



8. DE PROCOUDINE-GORSKY. APPARATUS FOR'THE PRODUCTION OF COLORED CLNEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS.

APPLICATION FiLED SEPT. 20, 19I9.

Patented Apr. 11,1922.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q5 mm S. DE PROCOUDINE-GORSKY. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COLORED CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20,19I9- Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

2 SHtEISSHEIET 2.

N0 hw ne- Cars/y uNirEosrA'rEs PATENT ornca.

SERGE DVE PROCOUDIINE-GORSKY, or GRANSTAD, KONNEBUD,

I e NORWAY.

NEAR DRAMMEN,

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COLORED.CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SERGE on PROCOUDINE- (ironsnr, a Russian subject, residing at present at Granstad, Konnerud, near Drammen, Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Colored Cinernatographic- Films; and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The apparatus proposed enables the production of a positive total picture in natural colors by the successive copying of three successive part-plctures taken on a negative .ribbon throughthree difierent light-filters as usual in the three-color system; According to this invention all those part-pictures which have been takenby means of a certain light-filter (for instance all the red of the positive ribbon, in order that every third part-picture of the negative ribbon may be copied on the picture-surfaces of the positive ribbon in the order they. follow after each other. The copying is effected by lighting the films pressed together at the moment when they are brought to a standstill. When the films are at a stand-still after each forward motion, they arepressed together, lighted and are again loosened from each other, all these operations being done with the necessary speed. After having been drawn forward to the necessary extent, the films are again brought to a standstill, pressed together, lighted, and so on.

The operation begins with the placing of Specification of Letters Patent I Patented Apr 11, 1922,

Application filed September 20, 1919. Serial No. 325,265.

. a certain part-picture of the negative ribbon on the picture-surfaces of the positive ribbon, then both ribbons are moved forward step by step, in'such a way that the steps are carried out in the same time, but with a speed so chosen that each step of the negative ribbon is thrice as long as that of the positive ribbon. l'Vhen the ribbons pass through the machines for the first time, all uniform part-pictures in the negative ribbon for instance all red ones are copied. W hen this is done the negative ribbon is moved on to an extent corresponding to that of the pictureof the positive ribbon. Next time the ribbons pass through the machine, part-pictures of the second category, for instance the green ones, are copied on the same positive ribbon, and then the ribbon is moved on another step in order that the part-pictures of the third category may be copied thereon. To enable the surfaces of the negativeand positive pictures to coincide exactly during the lighting step both ribbons are engaged by retaining devices, common to both of them, after each displacement. After lighting, the ribbons are again automatically removed from each other and loosened from the retaining devices. thereby avoiding damage to the emulsified surfaces of the films consequent upon accidental contact when they are shifted.

The annexed drawings. show by way of example a form of construction of the ap paratus proposed. Fig. 1 is a view of the apparatus partly in side elevation and partly in central vertical section, and Fig. '2 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in verti al section on the line A-B, Fig. 1.

The base 1 has a pin 2.'to which a frame 46 is fixed, the centrahportion of this frame forming a housing for the gearing, which is tightly covered by a cap. In the back part of the frame. a journal 3 is;arranged which carries a pulley 5 driven from a motor (not shown) arranged on the base by a suitable connecting element 4. From this pulley motion is transferred to the shaft 8 (Fig. 1) by means of the toothed gears 6. 7. A disc 8 fitted with two toothed rings 16, 20 is keyed to the inner end of the shaft 8. A toothed wheel 15 which is fixed to a shaft 12 located above shaft 8 meshes with the toothed ring 16 and another toothed wheel 9 centric 18.

scribed.

- are shown.

by a light-filter of the desired color.

in the form of a Maltese cross meshes with ring 20, the l /llalte'se cross'gear being connected with a crown gear'lO by meansof a sleeve 11 which is loose on shaft 12. i The latter is ournaled in bearin s 13 and ls nrdhnted in the frame, and has fastened to it adjacent the bearing 13 a sleeve 61 which carries a second crown gear 17 and anec- The sleeve 61 is formed with a spiral cam track 19 against which a roller provided on the free end of an arm mounted on shaft 59 yieldingly presses, with the'result that shaft 59 is caused to rock or.

turn about its axis when the shaft 12 rotates. This is utilized in the manner below de- The driving gears 23 and 22 respectively (Figs 1 and 2) on the shafts 24 and 25 (Fig. 2) mesh with and,are driven by the crown gears 10 and 17, said shafts also carrying gears 26 and 27 which mesh with.

gears attached to drums 28 and 29, the gear- 111g being so proportioned that the angular velocity of'the drum 29 is three times as 7 slow as that of the drum 28. The mechanism justdescribed is of duplex character; that is to say, there are at each side of the machine a pair of drums 28 and 29 and associated gears'and, hence, a pairof shafts 24 and 25 and associated gears, as will be understood fro-m Fig. 2 in which all four drums The negative ribbon N, indicated at 30, is led over the four drums 29, 28, 2S and 29 and passes thelighting device 31 between the drums 28 (Figs. 1 and 2). The latter consists of an electric lamp 33 and an optical condenser 32. The power of the light may be regulated by means of a movable partition wall 34 which may be replaced 7 Be- .tween the light-source 33 and the condenser 32 a rotating disc 35 is arranged which is provided with an opening for the purpose of effecting the exposure, which latter is interrupted when the films are moved forward. The shaft 36 of this disc is driven from shaft 8 at a constant angular velocity I by means of the pairs of intermeshing gears 88 and 37.

In the form of construction shown, the rotating motion is transferred to the drums 28 from shaft 12 by means of the gears 10,

I23 and 26 and the Maltese cross 9, i. e., with ever than that of the two drums 28.

through 270 for eaclncomplete rotation of the shaft 8 (each rotation of shaft 8 causing a displacement of the Maltese cross 9 of 90). Owing to this arrangement the negative film-ribbon 30 is consequently moved a no 4:2,901;

drums 29 make in the same time simultaneously a rotation of 270 and syiinnetrically shift the length of ribbon, which has been collected in the form of a loop if? when the drum 28 has been at a stand-still. On

the opposite side of the machine exactly the same"operation, but in the opposite direction, takes place. i

The positive film-ribbon P, indicated at 39, is arranged over the negative ribbon 30 of drums 4:0 and 41, one pair being disposed at each side of the machine by the side of the corresponding driims 28 and 29. The drums 4:0 and. ll are connected with the and is moved forward by means of the pairs drums 28 and 29 by means of the pairs of gears 42, 43 and 44:, a5, respectively, but they rotate at an angular velocity which isoncs third that of drums 28,and 29. The positive ribbon is moved forward in synchronism with the negative ribbon, but in such a way that during the time in which the negative ribbon is moved fprward three lengths of a picture-surface, the positive ribbon is moved forward one length only.

The wheel gearing above re fcrrcd to is as already mentioned arranged in a central casing in the frame l6. The lower part of this casing forms an oil reservoir 4-9 through which the ring gear 20 moves, said reservoir having a tap hole 51. 10 and 17 run in an oil bath 51) with a tap hole The shaft 12 is provided with an oil lubricator while the disc 5 and the toothed wheel gearings (3, 7 are lubricated by means of the lubricator 5 1.

'The shade of the lamp 3? is provided with three openings 55 (Fig. l) fitted with corresponding light-tilters which may be closed by means of elastic caps 56.

The toothed wheels As the back-lash of the gcarings might These discs are which are engageable bv the pointed ends of V a pair of arms 58 fixed to the previously mentioned shaft 59, the motion being effected by rocking of said shaft due to the action of its arm 60 which is pressed against the cam track 19 on sleeve 61 by means of the spring 62 (Fig. Each time-the ribbons are moved forward the ends of the arms 58 engage the notches in the discs attached to the drums 28 with the result that the ribbons 30 and 39 are'kept in the right position in relation to each other, so that their perforations coincide as nearly as possible. fit the point where the negative film on the same. pivot 65. This lever 66 has the' form of a fork an-dis fitted with fingers67 (Fig. 2), which serve to guide the positive ribbon 39.

Between the oscillating levers 64 and 66 a spring 21 is fitted, and the aforesaid levers are further connected with each other by means of an adjustable pin"72 or the like which is subjected to the action of a spring 71.

The oscillating lever System64, 66 is sup ported against the eccentric disc 18by means of a collar 69 and a hollow screw 68. The spring 70 arranged beneath the lower lever 6l pulls downwardly upon that lever, while the spring 71, which is immediately engaged with the pin 72 carried by the upper lever 66 presses down upon said lever 66. the latter exerting its pressure in turn through screw 68 against collar 69 which is thereby held against said eccentric. By witlulrawing pin 72, lever 66 is disconnected from lever 64 and may be swung backwardly thereby greatly facilitating the positioning of the ribbons.

' \Vhen the eccentric disc 18 is brought into a certain position the two oscillating levers 64 and 66 are lifted. Owing to the adjustablle relation between the hollow screw 68 and the collar 69 and as the collar may move freely within said'screw the distance between the lever 66 and the lever 64 is sufficient to avoid contact between the positive and negative ribbons. The latter which rests on the bent part 63 of lever 64 is lifted a bit from the plate 73in the lighting device. Said pla teor the coverot' the optical condenser 32 is fitted with pointed pins 74 which are adapted to engage the perforations in the ribbons 30 and 39. In the position of the levers 64 and 66 referred to the ribbons 30 and 39 are drawn forward and the drums 28 are fastened in a certain position by means of the arms 58. lVhen the surfaces of the pictures on both ribbons have been brought to suit each other exactly, the lifting levers 64 and 66 move downwards. with the result that both ribbons are pushed in on the pins 74. The bent piece 63 on oscillating lever 64 is then situated below the surface of the glass-plate 73 of the lighting device, so that the negative ribbon is pressed against the glass plate 73.

\Vhen the oscillating levers 64 and 66 are lifted, theslack in the two ribbons 30 and 39 is taken up and said ribbons are tightened. whereas the ribbons slacken little by little during the downward motion'of the levers. Hence, when the ribbons are engaged with the pins 74,- there is no danger of their being damaged by rubbing against each other, because a certain amount of displacement of the ribbons is possible.

As soon as the ribbons 30 and 39 are pressed between the glass-plates 73 and 75, the exposure opening in the disc 35 passes the electric lamp and the light falls on the ribbons. After exposure both levers 64 and 66 are again lifted by means of the eccentri'c disc 18 and theribbons are loosened from the pins 74 and withdrawn from each other so far that they may be shifted independently of each other. After a newstep the ribbons are again pressed in between the glass-plates, lighted and so on.

Duringthe oscillating motion the levers 64 and 66-are guided by the forks 7 7 and 78 on the rod 76, which is fixedto the frame of the machine. i

- I claim as my invention 4 1. Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films, comprising a source of light for tri-color exposures; mechanism for repeatedly feeding positive and negative film ribbons through the apparatus and across the light source in such a manner that they occupy a superposed relation while passing across said light source; said mechanism including feeding means individual to each ribbon. and means for arresting the ribbon feed and pressing said ribbons together during such passage so as to print the negative pictures on the positive ribbon; said feeding means acting to move the ribbons-step by step in such a way that at each passage of the ribbons through the apparatus, part-pictures of a different color are printed from the negative ribbon on the positive ribbon. 2. Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films. comprising a source of light; and means for feeding positive and negative film ribbons througl'i the apparatus and relatively to the light source: said feeding means including a pair of guide drums for the negative ribbon disposed at each side of the light source. gearing for intermittently rotating one drum of each pair, means for continuously rotating the other drum of each pair at a lower speed than the first drum and a pair of guide drums for the positive ribbon likewise disposed at each side of the light source, the secondnamed pairs of drums being driven from the adjacent first-named pairs at a speed which is a predetermined fraction of that of said first-named pairs. 7

3. Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films. comprising a source of light; spaced guide drums for feeding the apparatus and across the light source;

a cover for said light source having pins for engagement Wl'tli said ribbons. for holdingthe ribbons for engagement by the holding pins.

4;. Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films according to the tri-color system, comprising a source of light for tri-color exposures; mechanism for rep'eatedly feeding through the apparatus and. across the light source positive and negative film ribbons having the sensitive emulsions appliedto one side only thereof said mechanism including feeding means individual to each ribbon; and means for periodically arresting the ribbon feed and pressing the ribbons together as they pass the light source, so as to print the negative pictures on the positive film; said feeding meansacting to move'the ribbons forward step by step in such a way that the steps occur in the same period 'of time but at a speed such that each step of the negative ribbon is three times as long as thatof the positive ribbon, whereby at each passage of the ribbons through the apparatus part-pictures of a different color are printed from the negative ribbon on the positive ribbon.

5. Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films, comprising a source of light; means for feeding positive and negative film ribbons through the apparatus and across the light source; a cover for the light source having stationary re-.

taining devices for engagement with said ribbons to hold them in superposed relation during exposure; and a lever system for controlling the movement of the ribbons into and out of engagement with the retaining devices.

6. Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films, comprising a source of light means for feeding positiveretaining devices for engagement with said ribbons to hold them in superposed relation during exposure; a lever system for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the ribbons with and from the retaining devices; and means operatively associated with said feeding means for centering the ribbons for such engagement at the end of each intermittent feeding movement.

8. Apparatus for the production of col-- ored cinematographic films, comprising a source ot light; means for feeding positive and negative film ribbons through the apparatus and across the light source; a cover for the light source, having retaining devices for engagement with said ribbons to hold them in superposed relation during exposure; a lever system for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the ribbons with and from the retaining devices; notched centering disks operatively connected with said feeding means to move therewith; and means engageable in the notches of said disks to center the ribbons for engagement with said retaining devices.

9. Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films, comprising a source of light; spaced guide drums .for feeding positive and negative film ribbons through the apparatus and across the light source; a cover for said light source having retaining devices for engagement with said ribbons to hold them in superposed relation during exposure; a lever system arranged between said drums for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the ribbons with and from the retaining devices; and means for centering the ribbons for such engagement. said centering means including elements, immediately connected to certain of said drums to turn therewith.-

10. Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films. comprising a source of light; spaced guide drums for feeding positive and negative film ribbons through the apparatus and across. the light source ;a cover for said light source having retaining devices for engagement with said ribbons to hold them in superposed relation during exposure; a lever system arranged between said drums for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the ribbons with 'and from the retaining devices; and means for'centering the ribbons for such engagement said centering means including notched disks connected with certain of said drums to turn therewith. and arms movable into and out of engagement with the notches in the disks.

11. Apparatus for the production of colored cinematographic films comprising a source oflight; means for feeding positive and negative film ribbons through the apparatus and across the light source; a cover for the light source having retaining devices for engagement with said ribbons to hold bons for engagement with said retaining.

. them in superposed relation during expodevices.

- sure; a lever system for controlling the e-n- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as gagement and disengagement of the ribbons my invention, I have signed my name in r 5 with and from the retaining devices; notched presence of two subscribing witnesses.

centering disksassociated-With said feeding SERGE PROCOUDINE-GORSKL ,means for operation thereby; a rock shaft I H driving means for the rock shaft; and arms \Vitnesses: carried by said shaft for engagement with MAGNUS Bfieem;

l0 the notcl es in said disks to center the ribv NANOY ASLnKSENn 

